Axial compressors journal bearings

Like centrifugal compressor, axial compressor needs shafr seal to reduce the gas leakage. It uses balance drum to reduce the axial hydraulic imbalance and thrust bearing for the remaining axial imbalance. Journal bearings are used for the radial hydraulic imbalance. 

Monitoring should include the usual parameters worthy of surveillance in high-speed turbo machinery the temperature of journal bearings, vibration and axial position of the pinions, inlet and discharge temperatures combined with discharge pressure from the individual compressor stages, and various lube oil system devices. Competent manufacturers make sure all measurement locations are completely prewired on the machine and made available at predefined interfaces or in terminal boxes for connection at the plant site. 

The bearings used in axial compressors are the same journal and thrust type used in the centrifugal compressor. Refer to Chapter 5 for a complete description of these bearings. 

F(ir axial compressors, the journal bearings are of the plain sleeve type for the larger, slower speed compressors. They are of the tilting pad type for the smaller, higher speed machines. The sleeve bearing is normally housed io a spherically seated carrier. The bearings require pressure lubrication as do most of the other compressors. 

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